Apparatus for feeding rod shaped articles to consuming machines

ABSTRACT

A feeding apparatus which delivers batches of arrayed cigarettes to the magazine for a packing machine. The panels of the magazine are formed with vertical recesses for the rigid bars of a confining device which supports an inverted cigarette tray during evacuation of its contents into the magazine. The tray can be lifted and lowered by a frame at the upper end of the confining member. The internal surfaces of the bars are flush with the internal surfaces of the respective panels of the magazine and the width of as well as the distances between the bars which are adjacent to the ends of the cigarettes are less than the diameter of a cigarette. The lateral walls of the confining device may comprise single or twin bars whereby the length of a cigarette exceeds the width of a single bar or the distance between the twin bars.

United States Patent Wahle et al. [451 June 27, 1972 541 APPARATUS FORFEEDING ROD 3,460,687 8/1969 Bardenhagen ..214/17.62

SHAPED ARTICLES T0 CONSUMING 2,454,455 11/1948 Irwin MACHINES GunterWahle, Hamburg; Alois Kasparek, Reinbek, both of Germany Hauni-WerkeKorber & Co. Kg., Hamburg, Germany Filed: July ,30, 1970 Appl. No.:59,493

inventors:

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 2, 1969 Germany ..P 19 39 395.4

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1970 Bonfleth et al. ..214/3013,105,592 10/1963 Cohen ..220/8 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. ForlenzaAssistant Examiner-Lawrence .l. Oresky Attorney-Michael S. Striker [57]ABSTRACT A feeding apparatus which delivers batches of arrayedcigarettes to the magazine for a packing machine. The panels of themagazine are formed with vertical recesses for the rigid bars of aconfining device which supports an inverted cigarette tray duringevacuation of its contents into the magazine. The tray can be lifted andlowered by a frame at the upper end of the confining member. Theinternal surfaces of the bars are flush with the internal surfaces ofthe respective panels of the magazine and the width of as well as thedistances between the bars which are adjacent to the ends of thecigarettes are less than the diameter of a cigarette. The lateral wallsof the confining device may comprise single or twin bars whereby thelength of a cigarette exceeds the width of a single bar or the distancebetween the twin bars.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUNZ? m2 3, s72 522 INVENTORS auurm[m /b 4am; MLPM 3341 0! 0 ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ROD SHAPEDARTICLES TO CONSUMING MACHINES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONThe feeding apparatus of the present invention constitutes animprovement over and a further development of the apparatus disclosed inthe copending application Ser. No. 737,447 filed June 17, 1968 now US.Pat. No. 3,527,369 by Ulrich Bomfleth et al. and owned by the assigneeof the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatusfor feeding cigarettes or analogous rod shaped articles into magazineswhich supply the articles to packing or other consuming machines. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to improvements in feeding apparatusof the type disclosed in the aforementioned copending application ofBomfleth et a1. Still more particularly, the invention relates toimprovements in magazines and confining means for use in the apparatusof Bornfleth et al.

Bomfieth et al. disclose a feeding apparatus wherein the magazine for apacking or other consuming machine supports a confining device which ismovable up and down with reference to the magazine to provide a ductwherein the articles can be temporarily stored when the magazine isfilled. The magazine receives batches of arrayed articles from filledcontainers in the form of trays or chargers which are delivered by areceptacle capable of inverting a filled container above the open top ofthe magazine so that the contents of the tray are free to descent bygravity and enter the magazine. The purpose of the confining device itto insure that the magazine can be filled to and beyond capacity andthat a fresh batch can be delivered before the topmost layer of articlesin the magazine descends to a level which is well below the lowermostlayer of articles in the inverted tray. This insures that the descendingarticles need not cover a substantial distance and are therefore lesslikely to leave their optimum positions for stacking in the magazine.The confining device of the apparatus disclosed in the application ofBornfleth et al. comprises deformable auxilliary walls which are movableup and down above the open top of the magazine so as to share themovements of an inverted tray which is free to move with reference toits receptacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide thefilling apparatus with a novel and improved confining device which issimple, rugged and capable of extended use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a confining device whosewalls are constructed and assembled in such a way that they insureaccurate guidance of cigarettes or analogous rod shaped articles duringgravitational descent into the magazine of a packing or other consumingmachine and which cannot pinch, squeeze, bend and/or otherwise deform ordamage the articles during transfer into the magazine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a confining device whichcan be used in filling apparatus for existing consuming machines and isnot influenced by dust, moisture and/or particles of tobacco or filtermaterial.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a confining devicewhich is capable of positively preventing misalignment of articles whichare being evacuated from an inverted tray or an analogous container andare in the process of entering the magazine or hopper of a packing orother consuming machine.

The invention is embodied in an apparatus for feeding to a packing orother consuming machine cigarettes or analogous rod shaped articleswhich are stored in containers of the type having walls defining a spacefor the storage of a batch of arrayed parallel articles. The noveltyresides in the provision of a magazine or hopper having panels definingan open top, confining means at least partially surrounding the open topand comprising rigid auxiliary walls having preferably bar-shapedportions movable up and down in recesses provided therefor in the panelsof the magazine, means for moving the confining means up and down withreference to the magazine whereby the-confining means defines at least aportion of an upright duct which registers with the open top of themagazine, a receptacle for filled containers, and drive means for movingthe receptacle with a filled container therein to a position in whichthe filled container is inverted and rests on the confining means sothat the contents of such container can descend into the magazine by wayof the duct. The inverted container is movable up and down with theconfining means so that the articles which find no room in the magazineproper can be temporarily stored in the duct.

The bars of the-auxiliary walls are preferably of polygonal crosssection (most preferably of rectangular cross section) and are snuglyreceived in the respective recesses. Such recesses are preferablymachined into the internal surfaces of the respective panels and theinternal surfaces of the bars are preferably coplanar with the internalsurfaces of the respective panels.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved feeding apparatus itself, however, both as to its constructionand its mode of operation, together with additional features andadvantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of thefollowing detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of a feeding apparatus which embodies one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a detail in theapparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second feeding apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The feeding apparatus of FIGS.1 and 2 comprises a frame 201 having an upright frame member 202 whichsupports a horizontal arm or beam 205 extending above a consumingmachine 203, for example, a cigarette packing machine. The machine 203has or supports a magazine or hopper 204 which receives batches ofrod-shaped articles 210, for example, plain or filter cigarettes, fromfilled containers in the form of chargers or trays 209. Such filledtrays 209 are supported by a platform 206 which forms part of the frame201 and is disposed at a level above a second or lower platform 207 forempty containers or trays 212. The upper platform 206 supports twoparallel belt conveyors 208 which transport filled trays 209 in thedirection indicated by the arrow toward a transfer zone or station wherethe trays 209 are taken over by a receptacle 214. The lower platform 207also supports two belt conveyors 211 which transport empty trays 212away from the discharge end or lower end of a receiving means here shownas a verticle chute 213. The upper platform 206 is shorter than thelower platform 207; it terminates at the intake end of the chute 213 sothat the receptacle 214 can discharge an empty tray 212 into the chuteprior to accepting a filled tray 209. The conveyor system which deliversfilled trays 209 to the conveyors 208 on the upper platform 206 andremoves empty trays 212 from the conveyors 211 of the lower platform 207forms no part of the present invention. The chute 213 is adjacent to asuitable braking device (not shown) which prevents excessiveacceleration of empty trays 212 during gravitational descent onto thebelt conveyors 21 l.

The receptacle 214 is a cage which is rigidly connected with two coaxialsleeves 215 (only one shown in FIG. 1) slidable along and rotatable witha horizontal shaft 217 so as to enable the receptacle to travel betweenthe transfer station above the chute 213 and an evacuating station abovethe magazine 204, as well as to invert a filled tray 209 at theevacuating station so that the contents (cigarettes 210) of the filledtray can be discharged into the magazine 204. The receptacle 214 isfurther provided with two additional coaxial sleeves 221 (only oneshown) which are reciprocable along a second horizontal shaft 223parallel to the shaft 217. The shaft 223 is mounted on two levers 224,225 which are fixedly secured to the shaft 217. The means forreciprocating the receptacle 214 along the shaft 217 and for pivotingthe receptacle about the axis of the shaft 217 further comprises a driveincluding a motor (not shown) which is mounted in the frame member 202and moves the shaft 217 by way of a suitable linkage. The manner inwhich the receptacle 214 is movable along and pivotable about the axisof the shaft 217 is disclosed, for example, in German Utility Model No.1,938,552 published in Beitraege zum Stand der Technik in dertabakverarbeitenden Industrie, volume No. 3/ 1966, published Aug. 1,1966.

The means for releasably coupling a filled tray 209 to the receptacle214 during transport from the transfer station to the delivery positionat the evacuating station and an empty tray 212 during transport fromthe evacuating station to the intake end of the chute 213 comprises twolateral coupling members or clamps 226 which are mounted on thereceptacle 214 and two bottom coupling members or clamps 227 which arealso mounted on the receptacle 214. The clamps 226 are pivotable on pinswhich are mounted in bearings provided on the respective lateral wallsof the receptacle 214. Springs are provided to permanently bias theclamps 226 to their retaining or coupling positions in which the clampsengage the front edges of the side walls 209a of a filled tray 209 inthe receptado 214. The clamps 226 are automatically pivoted to openpositions when the receptacle 214 approaches the transfer station; suchopening of the clamps 226 is effected by stationary cams (not shown)which are mounted in front of the upper platform 206 so that thereceptacle 214 can automatically discharge an empty tray 212 forgravitational descent through the chute 213 and that the belt conveyors208 are thereupon free to advance the foremost filled tray 209 into theempty receptacle. The bottom clamps 227 are connected to the bottom wallof the receptacle 214 by hinges 232 and are provided with laterallyextending shafts 233 for roller followers 234. Springs 235 are attachedto the receptacle 214 and bias the bottom clamps 227 to their retainingor coupling positions.

The receptacle 214 is further provided with a pivotable L- shaped coveror lid 236 which closes the top of a filled tray 209 during transportaway from the transfer station and during inversion at the evacuatingstation. The cover 236 is biased by a spring (not shown) which tends tohold it in the open or inoperative position so that the cover thenpermits evacuation of cigarettes 210 from a tray 209 which is held ininverted position above the top of the magazine 204. The pivoting orrocking mechanism which moves the cover 236 to and retains it in theclosed or operative position (at least during inversion above themagazine 204) is preferably constructed in the same way as described inthe copending application Ser. No, 737,447 now US. Pat. No. 3,527,369 ofBornfleth et al.

The magazine 204 has two side panels 204a, a front panel 2040 and a rearpanel 204d. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the magazine204 supports a novel confining device having auxiliary walls or guideswhich constitute extensions of the panels 204a, 204a and extend betweenthe panels 204a, 2040 and the side walls 209a and rear wall 209d of aninverted filled tray 209 at the evacuating station. The auxiliary wallsare denoted by the reference characters 286 and 287. The auxiliary wall287 (i.e., the extension of the front panel 2040 of the magazine204)faces the rear panel 204d and is adjacent to one end of each cigarette210 which descends into the magazine 204 on its way into the consumingmachine 203. The walls 286, 287 are reciprocable up and down (asindicated by the arrow A) and the wall 287 comprises a row of parallelvertical strips or bars 288a, 288b, 288c. 288n (e. g., a total of 30strips) which are reciprocable in verticle recesses or grooves 289a,289b, 2890 289): provided in the internal surface of the front panel2040. The cross section of each strip 288 and of each recess 289 is ofrectangular outline. The width x' of each bar 288 in a plane which isnormal to the direction of the arrow A and the distance y between theadjoining bars 288(in the direction indicated by the arrow B is lessthan the diameter of a cigarette 210. This insures that the adjacentends of the cigarettes 210 cannot penetrate into the gaps between thebars 288 and/or into the recesses 289.

Each of the auxiliary walls 286 constitutes an extension of therespective lateral panel 204a and each thereof comprises a singlevertical strip or bar 291 which is reciprocable in a vertical recess 292provided in the internal surface of the respective panel 2040. The widthz of each recess292 as considered in the longitudinal direction ofcigarettes 210 in a filled tray 209 at the evacuating station) is lessthan the length of a cigarette; therefore, the cigarettes cannotpenetrate into the recesses 292 during evacuation from the invertedfilled tray 209 which is supported at a level above the open top of themagazine 204. Those surfaces of the bars 288, 291 which face toward theinterior of the space between the auxiliary walls 286, 287 are flushwith the internal surfaces of the respective panels 2040, 204e, and eachsuch bar completely fills the respective recess 289, 292 in the lowerend positions of the auxiliary walls. Thus when the walls 286, 287 arepermitted to descend to their lower end psotions, the cigarettes 210which are located in the magazine 204 are confined by smooth surfaceswhich are located in three planes, namely, in the planes of the internalsurfaces of the panels 204a and in the plane of the internal surface ofthe panel 2040.

The auxiliary walls 286, 287 are rigid with and depend from a U-shapedframe 246 which is provided with sleeves movable up and down with twovertical rods 247, 248. The upper ends of the rods 247, 248 areconnected to each other by a horizontal traverse 249. The rods 247, 248are rigid with brackets 254, 255 forming part of a bearing block 253.The block 253 is further provided with a supporting plate 256 whichmounts a reversible gear motor 257 having an output shaft provided witha pinion 258 in mesh with a vertical toothed rack 259 which is securedto and extends downwardly from the traverse 249.

The bars 291 of the auxiliary walls 286 support a level detector whichincludes a light source 263 mounted in a hole of one of the bars 291 anda photosensitive receiver 264 mounted in a registering hole of the otherbar 291. The means for moving the bottom clamps 227 with reference tothe main portion of the receptacle 214 comprises two actuating rods 265which extend forwardly from the brackets 254, 255. The feeding apparatusfurther comprises means for lifting a filled tray 209 with reference tothe receptacle 214, for guiding the raised filled tray during pivotalmovement in a downward direction, and for returning the tray to itsoriginal position with reference to the receptacle. Such means includesa yokelike guide 266 which is mounted on two vertical bars 267, 268supported by the block 253. Still further, the apparatus comprises apreferably transparent or translucent plate-like realigning member 269(consisting e.g., of plexiglas) which extends upwardly from the rearpanel 204d of the magazine 204 and serves as a means for preventingexcessive axial displacement of cigarettes 210 during pivoting of afilled tray 209 with the receptacle 214. Such axial displacement ofcigarettes 210 could take place under the action of centrifugal force.The realigning member 269 extends upwardly beyond the bearing sleeves251, 252 and its width equals or approximates that of the receptacle214. The lateral portions of the upper part of the realigning member 269are formed with cutouts 271 which permit passage of the lateral clamps226 during pivotal movement of the receptacle 214.

The operation:

It is assumed that the consuming machine 203 draws cigarettes from themagazine 204 and that the supply of the cigarettes in the magazine hasbeen depleted to such an extent that the light beam issuing from thelight source 263 can reach the photosensitive receiver 264 so that thelatter produces a signal. It is also assumed that the auxiliary walls286, 287 dwell in their lower end positions; these walls follow thedownward movement of the uppermost layer of cigarettes 210 in themagazine 204. The signal from the photosensitive receiver 264 starts theoperation of the drive for the receptacle 214 which dwells in aninclined position adjacent to the evacuating station (such inclinedposition of the receptacle 214 is shown in FIG. 1) in front of themagazine 204. The drive causes the receptacle 214 to pivot and tothereby invert a filled tray 209 therein so that the tray moves to aposition above the open top of the magazine 204. The thus invertedfilled tray 209 rests on the frame 246 of the confining device. In thecourse of inversion of the filled tray 209 in the receptacle 214, theactuating rods 265 engage and pivot the bottom clamps 227 against theopposition of the respective springs 235 to thus free the tray 209 formovement relative to the receptacle. As soon as the receptacle 214inverts the filled tray 209 therein, the cover 236 is actuated by itspivoting mechanism so that it moves to the open position and permits thecigarettes 210 to descend by gravity. Furthermore,'the pivotingmechanism for the cover 236 actuates a switch (not shown) which startsthe motor 257 in a direction to lift the frame 246 and the auxiliarywalls 286, 287. Consequently, the inverted tray 209 rises with the frame246 and relative to the receptacle 214 which cannot interfere with suchmovement because the bottom clamps 227 are held in open positions by theactuating rods 265. The ascending bars 288, 291 of the auxiliary walls286, 287 share the upward movement of the tray 209 by moving in therespective recesses 289, 292 to thereby lengthen the respective frontand lateral panels of the magazine 204 at the rate at which the invertedtray rises. This insures that the cigarettes 210 which descend bygravity are properly guided and confined at all times. The motor 257moves the frame 246 (and the inverted tray 209 thereon) to its upper endposition whereby the cigarettes 210 descend into the duct surrounded bythe bars 288, 291 and realigning member 269. When the inverted tray 209reaches its upper end position, it actuates a switch (not shown) whicharrests the motor 257 and adjusts the level detector 263, 264 in such away that the latter is set to produce signals which effect a downwardmovement of the frame 246. In the meantime the filled tray 209 isconverted into an empty tray 212 which continues to rest on the frame246 in the latter's upper end position.

If the consuming machine 203 remains in operation and withdrawscigarettes 210 from the magazine 204, the level of the topmost layer ofcigarettes in the duct surrounded by the realigning member 269 andauxiliary walls 286, 287 descends so that the light beam issuing fromthe light source 263 can reach the photosensitive receiver 264 whichtransmits a signal to the drive for the receptacle 214. A cam mechanismof this drive pivots the receptacle 214 about the axis of the shaft 217whereby the pivoting receptacle moves the empty tray 212 ofi" the frame246. The receptacle 214 then reassumes the inclined position shown inFIG. 1. The drive thereupon moves the receptacle 214 lengthwise of theshaft 217 to the transfer station where the empty tray 212 is permittedto descend in the chute 213 and to come to rest on the belt conveyors 21l of the lower platform 207. The receptacle 214 thereupon accepts theforemost filled tray 209 from the belt conveyors 208 on the upperplatform 206 and is returned to the inclined position of FIG. 1 in whichit remains until the drive receives a fresh signal to invert thereceptacle and the filled tray therein.

When the photosensitive receiver 264 sends a signal to the drive for thereceptacle 214, it also starts the motor 257 in a direction to lower theframe 246 with the auxiliary walls 286, 287. Such movement of the frame246 is terminated when the light beam between the light source 263 andthe detector 264 is interrupted by the cigarettes 210 in the ductbetween the realigning member 269 and the auxiliary walls 286, 287. Itis to be borne in mind that the components 263, 264 of the leveldetector are mounted on the bars 291 of the auxiliary walls 286, Le,that they share all movements of the frame 246. If

the consuming machine 203 operates normally, the supply of cigarettes210 in the duct between the member 269 and walls 286, 287 descendsgradually or stepwise whereby the receiver 264 intermittently starts themotor 257 in a direction to lower the frame 246, always to the extentnecessary to interrupt the light beam between the light source 263 andthe receiver 264. When the frame 246 reaches its lower end position withreference to the magazine 204, it actuates an adjusting device whichsets the level detector in such a way that the next-following signalfrom the receiver 264 effects an upward movement of the frame 246 to itsupper end position. As the level of the supply of cigarettes 210 in themagazine 204 descends below the level of the light beam which isproduced by the source 263, the drive for the receptacle 214 is againstarted in the manner necessary to invert the filled tray 209 and toplace it on top of the frame 246 while the latter dwells in the lowerend position. The motor 257 thereupon moves the frame 246 to its upperend position and the evacuation of the contents of the filled tray iscarried out in the same way as described above. 1

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a second feeding apparatus wherein thelateral auxiliary walls 386 of the confining device comprise pairs ofvertical bars or strips 391a, 39lb of rectangular cross-sectionaloutline. The distance z between the bars 3910, 391b of each lateralauxiliary wall 386 is less than the length of a cigarette. These barsare reciprocable in vertical recesses 392a, 392b provided in theinternal surfaces of the respective side panels 304a of the magazine304. The bars 388a, 388b, 3886 of the front auxiliary wall areconstructed and configurated in the same way as the bars 288. These barsare received in recesses 391a, 391b, 3910 of the front panel 3040. Thenumeral 346 denotes the frame of the confining device and the numeral304d denotes the rear panel of the magazine. The internal surface of thebars 391, 388 are flush with the internal surfaces of the respectivepanels of the magazine 304 and each of these bars is snugly received inthe respective recess.

The light source (corresponding to the element 263 of FIG.

1 or 2) can be mounted on the bar 391a and/or 39lb of one lateralauxiliary wall 386 and the receiver (corresponding to the receiver 264of FIG. 1) can be mounted on the bar 3910 and/or 39lb of the otherlateral auxiliary wall. Also, such parts can be mounted directly on theframe 364 at an appropriate level below the tray-supporting top surfaceof such frame.

An important advantage of the improved feeding apparatus is that itemploys a rigid confining device and that the bars of the confiningdevice are dimensioned, distributed and configurated in such a way thatthey cannot deform or damage the cigarettes as well as that they are notaffected by dust, moisture and/or fragments or tobacco and/or filtermaterial. Furthermore, a rigid confining device insures a verysatisfactory guidance of cigarettes which descend from an inverted tray209 into the interior of the magazine 204 or 304. Moreover, a rigidconfining device can stand long periods of use and can readily supportand lift a filled tray 209 during transfer of arrayed cigarettes intothe magazine.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. In an apparatus for feeding to a consuming machine cigarettes oranalogous rod shaped articles which are stored in containers of the typehaving walls defining a space for the storage of a supply of parallelarticles, a combination comprising a magazine having panels defining anopen top; confining means at least partially surrounding said open topand comprising rigid auxiliary walls having portions movable up and downin and permanently registering with recesses provided therefor in saidpanels; means for moving said confining means up and down with referenceto said magazine whereby the confining means defines at least a portionof a duct which registers with said open top; a receptacle for filledcontainers; and drive means for moving said receptacle with a filledcontainer therein to a position in which the filled container isinverted and rests on said confining means so that the contents of theinverted container can descend into said magazine by way of said duct,the inverted container being movable up and down with said confiningmeans so that the articles which find no room in said magazine can betemporarily stored in said duct.

' 2. In an apparatus for feeding to a consuming machine cigarettes oranalogous rod shaped articles which are stored in containers of the typehaving walls defining a space for the storage of a supply of parallelarticles, a combination comprising a magazine having panels defining anopen top; confining means at least partially surrounding said open topand comprising rigid auxiliary walls having bars movable up and down inrecesses provided therefor in said panels, said bars being parallel tothe direction of movement of said confining means with reference to saidmagazine; means for moving said confining means up and down withreference to said magazine whereby the confining means defines at leasta portion of a duct which registers with said open top; a receptacle forfilled containers; and drive means for moving said receptacle with afilled container therein to a position in which the filled container isinverted and rests on said confining means so that the contents of theinverted container can descend into said magazine by way of said duct,the inverted container being movable up and down with said confiningmeans so that the articles which find no room in said magazine can betemporarily stored in said duct.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said bars are snuglyreceived in the respective recesses of said panels.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the bars of saidauxiliary walls and said recesses have polygonal cross sections.

5. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the distance between thebars of at least one of said auxiliary walls is less than the maximumtransverse dimension of an article so that the articles cannot penetrateinto the recesses for such bars or between the bars of said oneauxiliary wall.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said magazine includes afront panel and a pair of lateral panels and the recesses for the barsof said one auxiliary wall are provided in said front panel, said frontpanel being normal to the longitudinal directions of articles in saidmagazine and said duct.

7. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary wallsinclude two lateral walls each having a single bar, said single barsflanking the articles in said duct and each having a length which is atleast slightly less than the length of an article.

8. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary wallsinclude two lateral walls which flank the articles in said duct, each ofsaid lateral walls comprising two parallel bars separated from eachother by a gap whose width is less than the length of an article.

9. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said panels haveinternal surfaces and said recesses are provided in the internalsurfaces of the respective panels.

10. A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said bars have internalsurfaces which are coplanar with the internal surfaces of the respectivepanels.

1. In an apparatus for feeding to a consuming machine cigarettes oranalogous rod shaped articles which are stored in containers of the typehaving walls defining a space for the storage of a supply of parallelarticles, a combination comprising a magazine having panels defining anopen top; confining means at least partially surrounding said open topand comprising rigid auxiliary walls having portions movable up and downin and permanently registering with recesses provided therefor in saidpanels; means for moving said confining means up and down with referenceto said magazine whereby the confining means defines at least a portionof a duct which registers with said open top; a receptacle for filledcontainers; and drive means for moving said receptacle with a filledcontainer therein to a position in which the filled container isinverted and rests on said confining means so that the contents of theinverted container can descend into said magazine by way of said duct,the inverted container being movable up and down with said confiningmeans so that the articles which find no room in said magazine can betemporarily stored in said duct.
 2. In an apparatus for feeding to aconsuming machine cigarettes or analogous rod shaped articles which arestored in containers of the type having walls defining a space for thestorage of a supply of parallel articles, a combination comprising amagazine having panels defining an open top; confining means at leastpartially surrounding said open top and comprising rigid auxiliary wallshaving bars movable up and down in recesses provided therefor in saidpanels, said bars being parallel to the direction of movement of saidconfining means with reference to said magazine; means for moving saidconfining means up and down with reference to said magazine whereby theconfining means defines at least a portion of a duct which registerswith said open top; a receptacle for filled containers; and drive meansfor moving said receptacle with a filled container therein to a positionin which the filled container is inverted and rests on said confiningmeans so that the contents of the inverted container can descend intosaid magazine by way of said duct, the inverted container being movableup and down with said confining means so that the articles which find noroom in said magazine can be temporarily stored in said duct.
 3. Acombination as defined in claim 2, wherein said bars are snugly receivedin the respective recesses of said panels.
 4. A combination as definedin claim 3, wherein the bars of said auxiliary walls and said recesseshave polygonal cross sections.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 3,wherein the distance between the bars of at least one of said auxiliarywalls is less than the maximum transverse dimension of an article sothat the articles cannot penetrate into the recesses for such bars orbetween the bars of said one auxiliary wall.
 6. A combination as definedin claim 5, wherein said magazine includes a front panel and a pair oflateral panels and the recesses for the bars of said one auxiliary wallare provided in said front panel, said front panel being normal to thelongitudinal directions of articles in said magazine and said duct.
 7. Acombination as defined in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary walls includetwo lateral walls each having a single bar, said single bars flankingthe articles in said duct and each having a length which is at leastslightly less than the length of an article.
 8. A combination as definedin claim 3, wherein said auxiliary walls include two lateral walls whichflank the articles in said duct, each of said lateral walls comprisingtwo parallel bars separated from each other by a gap whose width is lessthan the length of an article.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 3,wherein said panels have internal surfaces and said recesses areprovided in the internal surfaces of the respective panels.
 10. Acombination as defined in claim 9, wherein said bars have internalsurfaces which are coplanar with the internal surfaces of the respectivepanels.